University of Ottawa recognized nationally for advancing the lives of new Canadians

Student team earns 2014 national recognition for efforts to empower newcomers in Ottawa.

CALGARY, AB, April 28, 2014 -
The University of Ottawa has been awarded the 2014 RBC Newcomer Advancement Project Fund Best Project by this country’s largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and proud supporter RBC Foundation. The awards presentation took place at the 2014 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Calgary.

The Enactus team from the University of Ottawa was awarded Best Project because they were able to impact the lives of five new Canadians through their project, EcoEquitable Boutique.

The EcoEquitable Boutique is a women's fashion Boutique, focusing on selling women's fashion accessories made from repurposed fabric. With both a physical store and an online presence, the Boutique is acting as a social enterprise that is creating jobs for five marginalized immigrant women and teaching them a valuable trade complimented by basic financial literacy and business skills.

“Canada’s future prosperity will increasingly depend on our ability to remain a destination of choice for skilled immigrants,” notes Shari Austin, vice-president, Corporate Citizenship, RBC and executive director, RBC Foundation, “We need to support newcomers, both in terms of funding employment and in fulfilling their entrepreneurial ambitions. On behalf of RBC I’d like to congratulate the Enactus team from the University of Ottawa.”

The RBC Newcomer Advancement Project Fund was designed to accelerate the advancement of newcomers to Canada, creating social and economic opportunities that will strengthen the well-being of communities.

“As a country, when we welcome newcomers to Canada, we carry a responsibility to support them through this transition,” said Nicole Almond, Enactus Canada president. “We are proud to recognize the Enactus team from the University of Ottawa for using entrepreneurial action to address this challenge and, in partnership with RBC Foundation, recognizing the difference they have made in people’s lives.”

The RBC Newcomer Advancement Project Fund Best Project was awarded at the 2014 Enactus Canada National Exposition , where more than 1,200 delegates including the country’s brightest university and college students, academic professionals and top Canadian CEOs came together to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world.

For news throughout the year and competition results during the event, please visit @Enactus_Canada on Twitter.

ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA:
Enactus Canada is a community of student, academic and business leaders enabling progress through entrepreneurial action. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 2,300 student leaders create and implement over 350 community empowerment projects and business ventures every year in communities coast to coast. As a global network of 39 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.

About RBC’s Commitment to Community and Sustainability
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) is Canada’s largest bank and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We employ approximately 79,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 42 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com. RBC is recognized among the world’s financial, social and environmental leaders and is listed on the 2014 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the DJSI North American Index, the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. RBC is one of Canada’s Greenest Employers, and one of Canada’s 50 Most Socially Responsible Corporations.

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships, community investments and employee volunteer activities. In 2013, we contributed more than $104 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $69 million and $35 million in sponsorships. Learn more at rbc.com/community-sustainability.